Thirty-one years ago (it can't be that long ago... And yet it is.) I became Mrs. Dyck (and yet remained Leanne to most). And on that auspicious day, I gave a toast. (Does a bride give a toast? Traditionally no, but this one did.) This short story is about that day and that toast.
The morning of my wedding day, my dad greeted me with, “Good morning, Mrs. Dyck.”
I’d been debating with myself about whether I should exchange Willetts for Dyck—replace one man’s surname with another. That worry had been taken off my shoulders, leaving room for a bigger worry—will I get my speech written in time?
I’d approached the subject with Mom. “I want to write a speech to read at my wedding.”
“You don’t need that added pressure.”
She just couldn’t understand how important it was to me. So I didn’t ask for her help.
First up that morning was the ceremony and before that preparing for the ceremony. I had a window of time after the photo session and before the reception. If I couldn’t get it written then, I’d have to scrap the idea.
Byron—my newly claimed husband—saw me with pen in hand and asked, “What are you writing?”
“My speech.”
“You mean you haven’t written it yet.”
“I’m writing it now.” I sent him away with a kiss.
My pen didn’t run out of ink and under pressure my brain supplied…
“I would like to lift a glass in appreciation of four very important people. These people are so important, in fact, that without them none of us would be here right now.
“They taught Byron and me how to love. The value of a dollar. Never to stay out too late on a weeknight. The value of good hard work. To believe in the word can. And never to leave the house without our keys or clean underwear. I could go on but they also taught us to be brief. That life is short and time is precious. And so please join us in a toast to our parents. To Ron, Doreen, Jim and Oli—Ollie—Mom.”
Our 118 guests laughed at my fumble, but not in a mean way.
“Thank you for everything and we love you.”
August on this blog...
Sunday, August 13
Book Review: The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen
by Isaac Blum
Published by Philomel Books
(Young Adult Fiction)
serves as an introduction to Orthodox Jewish culture. It's a thought-provoking story that probes the concepts of otherness and rule-breaking.
Sunday, August 20
Book Review: Ducks
by Kate Beaton
Drawn & Quarterly
(Graphic Memoir)
about working on Northern Alberta’s oil sands.
Sunday, August 27
Grocery Shopping (short story)
This short story about neighbourliness is set on my island home of Mayne Island, BC
Many thanks to Alea Design & Print for publishing this short story in this month's MayneLiner .
